Back to the Future, Delhi’s First-Ever Millet Mixer

A film screening, a pub quiz, and millet-inspired cocktails—there’s no reason climate conversations can’t come with a dash of fun.
Photo by Team Locavore.

At The Locavore, we believe in making small, impactful changes that create ripples for a climate-first future. But there’s no reason our commitment to the climate can’t come with a side of fun, millets, and booze!

 

‘Back to the Future: Delhi’s first ever millet mixer’ — was a fusion of engagements around millets that brought together diverse Locavores from around the city! At this event, we weren’t just trying to raise awareness; but turn climate conversations into a party.

 

The mixer was a collaboration between The Locavore and Rainmatter Foundation as part of our Millet Revival Project, which aims to reinvigorate India’s relationship with millets. We do this by combining in-depth research, community engagement, and impactful storytelling to highlight the grains’ health and ecological benefits. For this event we partnered with Fig & Maple in Greater Kailash. Helmed by Chef Radhika Khandelwal, Fig & Maple strongly believes in and practises sustainability as well as seasonal cooking. They strive for zero-waste in the kitchen by finding innovative ways to use each and every ingredient.

 

After introductions and some delicious millet cookies, and hot tea and coffee, we began by screening Jowar Gatha, a film that explores the deep connection between farmers and the millets they grow through songs, rituals, and storytelling. Jowar Gatha is a documentary film directed by Laxminarayan Devda, a farmer and filmmaker from rural Madhya Pradesh.

 

Laxminarayan Devda worked with Samaj Pragati Sahayog’s community media unit to create this film, which explores the many ways that jowar forms an integral part of the lives of the farmers in the documentary—from rituals to health, and taste to food security— it is ever present.

 

Over the last three decades, Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) has grown to be one of India’s largest grass-roots initiatives for water and livelihood security, working with its partners on a million acres of land across 72 of India’s most backward districts, mainly in the central Indian Adivasi belt.

Watching jowar gatha and learning about the process of filmmaking from farmer filmmaker Laxminarayan Devda. Photos by Team Locavore.

The audience, predominantly urban, was so immersed in the stories told in jowar gatha—the process of growing jowar, how different each variety was in terms of what could be cooked with it, what it really takes to bring it to our plates, and how indigenous communities revere and enjoy it.

 

After watching the film, attendees interacted with the director Laxminarayan Devda and learnt about his journey to becoming a filmmaker, what inspired him to make this movie, and of course, how he enjoys eating jowar!

 

Then it was time for our tried and tested crowd favourite, The Locavore Shuffle, for which we moved to the beautiful rooftop space of Fig & Maple! The Shuffle invites strangers to connect more intentionally. Participants sit facing each other and engage in guided conversations,  with topics ranging from food memories, food and identity, to recipes, kitchen utensils, global food systems, local markets, vendors, and so much more. Then, when the bell rings, you shift to your left, and start up a conversation with yet another stranger!

The Delhi Shuffle had participants from as young as eight to people well in their 70s! Photos by Team Locavore.

And last, but certainly not the least, we had ChefTZac’s famous pub quiz. A brain-teasing, millet and climate themed pub quiz that really put our knowledge to the test.

 

Picture this: you and your team, huddled around a table, with drinks in hand and minds primed for some millet-themed trivia. With rounds covering the ancient origins of millets to its modern-day culinary delights, environment trivia and much more, this quiz wasn’t just about fun, but also about making a difference, one question at a time.

Participants were divided into five groups, and the winning team bagged a gift hamper with lots of millet goodies and products from our #TLpartner producers! Photos by Team Locavore.

Chef Radhika Khandelwal and her team at the DIY millet salad bar. Photos by Team Locavore.

We also explored the delicious side of millets with Fig & Maple, which served up mouthwatering millet salads and snacks, as well as millet inspired cocktails! Some highlights included kodo crusted mushroom galouti kebab with timur, and sweet potato and foxtail millet tacos. Chef Radhika Khandelwal said: 

 

“I definitely recognise that no person ever wakes up craving a zero waste meal or pondering the origin of their food. That’s why collaborations like this one are so significant. By aligning with partners who share our values of local sourcing, seasonality, biodiversity, and waste reduction, we amplify our message and inspire others to join the movement.”

Read our interview with farmer filmmaker Laxminarayan Devda in Hindi here, and in English here.

At The Locavore, we love planning and executing events that highlight India’s diverse local foods, celebrating community, sustainability, and cultural heritage. Our events feature engaging workshops, discussions, immersive experiences and other formats that connect you to India’s rich food culture. Interested in collaborating or having us organise an event? Reach out at connect@thelocavore.in.